Tuesday, January 19 - Students of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre received a dose of motivation and encouragement through a special visit from yachtsman and author Mr. Geoff Holt.
Mr. Holt, who is the first quadriplegic to complete a solo voyage through the transatlantic, visited the school last week and related the experience of his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the students, teachers and guests during a special presentation. He told the students that sailing is one of the special things they can do on their own and which “can make them forget about all their problems”. He said, “When you sail a boat you get a feeling of freedom and empowerment, you get to be yourself.”
Mr. Holt said it was his goal to sail the ocean as a physically challenged person. “I thought that I will never be able to do that (sail) again but I believe in following my dreams,” Mr. Holt told the gathering, adding, “If you have a dream there should be no excuses to not follow it because it is easy to find excuses.”
Mr. Holt explained to the gathering the reason for culminating his trip at Cane Garden Bay, where he suffered the accident that left him disabled 25 years ago. “I did not go to Cane Garden Bay because I was sad but because I wanted to celebrate 25 years of a great life,” he said.
He told the students that being in a wheelchair and having difficulties in life should not be the biggest problem of their lives. “You should never think of looking back, always look forward and think about the great things you can do with your lives,” he urged the students.
Speaking about integration Mr. Holt said, “I believe in integration and that society can benefit from it,” adding, “I believe that when you integrate persons with disabilities and non-disabled persons it breaks down barriers and there will be no stigma attached to disabilities.”
Education Officer for Special Needs Education Ms. Lorna Dawson said there is a need to change attitude. She told Mr. Holt she hopes his visit to the Territory will help in the process of moving forward. “We are outmoded in our way of dealing with disabilities but this is an opportunity for a fresh start and to move forward,” she said.
Mr. Holt’s “Personal Atlantic Challenge” began on December 10, 2009, when he set sail in a 60 foot, purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible catamaran. The 2,700 mile journey took him 28 days to complete. He was scheduled to arrive before the new year but a number of problems delayed the trip by at least a week.
Upon completing his challenge, Mr. Holt became the first quadriplegic to make the journey, unassisted in every aspect of the sailing. Amongst his many accomplishments Mr. Holt sailed the ocean three times at age 16; after his accident the daughter of the Queen, Princess Anne personally asked him to help set-up a national charity to help other disabled people go sailing, which is called Sailability. Additionally, two years ago he sailed around Great Britain which took him 109 days and he is the author of the book “Walking on Water”.
British Virgin Islands News